Quote

Language is the dress of thought and as the noblest mien or most graceful action would be degraded and obscured by a garb appropriated to the gross employments of rusticks or mechanics, so the most heroick sentiments will lose their efficacy

Samuel Johnson

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Samuel Johnson
Age: 75 †
Born: 1709
Born: September 18
Died: 1784
Died: December 13
Biographer
Bookseller
Essayist
Lexicographer
Linguist
Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Poet
Politician
Teacher
Translator
Writer
Lichfield
Staffordshire
Dr Johnson
Dr. Johnson
Great Moralist
Dresses
Efficacy
Lose
Mechanics
Mien
Loses
Noblest
Employments
Language
Mechanic
Garb
Action
Gross
Appropriated
Thought
Employment
Obscured
Would
Sentiments
Degraded
Dress
Graceful

More quotes by Samuel Johnson

Image
There are innumerable questions to which the inquisitive mind can in this state receive no answer: Why do you and I exist? Why was this world created? Since it was to be created, why was it not created sooner?
Samuel Johnson
Image
From thee, great God, we spring, to thee we tend,- Path, motive, guide, original, and end.
Samuel Johnson
Image
The hopes of zeal are not wholly groundless.
Samuel Johnson
Image
No man should attempt to teach others what he has never learned himself
Samuel Johnson
Image
The true genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction.
Samuel Johnson
Image
He to whom many objects of pursuit arise at the same time, will frequently hesitate between different desires till a rival has precluded him, or change his course as new attractions prevail, and harass himself without advancing.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Consider what importance to society the chastity of women is. Upon that all the property in the world depends. We hang a thief for stealing a sheep but the unchastity of a woman transfers sheep and farm and all from the right owner.
Samuel Johnson
Image
The two offices of memory are collection and distribution.
Samuel Johnson
Image
The world will never be long without some good reason to hate the unhappy their real faults are immediately detected and if those are not sufficient to sink them into infamy, an individual weight of calumny will be super-added.
Samuel Johnson
Image
To mean understandings, it is sufficient honour to be numbered amongst the lowest labourers of learning but different abilities must find different tasks. To hew stone, would have been unworthy of Palladio and to have rambled in search of shells and flowers, had but ill suited with the capacity of Newton.
Samuel Johnson
Image
A man, doubtful of his dinner, or trembling at a creditor, is not much disposed to abstracted meditation, or remote enquiries.
Samuel Johnson
Image
This merriment of parsons is mighty offensive.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Security will produce danger.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Many leave the labours of half their life to their executors and to chance, because they will not send them abroad unfinished, and are unable to finish them, having prescribed to themselves such a degree of exactness as human diligence can scarcely ontain.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Jesting, often, only proves a want of intellect.
Samuel Johnson
Image
No degree of knowledge attainable by man is able to set him above the want of hourly assistance.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Those authors who would find many readers, must endeavour to please while they instruct.
Samuel Johnson
Image
It is wonderful to think how men of very large estates not only spend their yearly income, but are often actually in want of money. It is clear, they have not value for what they spend.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Art hath an enemy called ignorance.
Samuel Johnson
Image
Each change of many-colour'd life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then imagin'd new.
Samuel Johnson